Chennai: Many temples in Tamil Nadu are turning towards Surya Bhagwan to power the premises and administrative buildings. The solar panels installed at the temples in Sri Subrahmanya Swamy temple at Tiruchendur, Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple, Palani besides the shrines in Kanyakumari and Chennai have brought down the bi-monthly electricity bills by Rs 10,000 to 15,000 for each of the temples.
The temples, which have installed 10 kw panel, are reaping the harvest. The Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, Srirangam, Rockfort Sri Thayumanaswamy temple in Tiruchi, Sri Mathura Kali Amman temple in Siruvachur, Sri Subramanyaswamy temple in Kumara Vayalur, Sri Vekkali Amman temple in Woraiyur, Sri Jambukeswarar — Akilandeswari temple in Tiruvanaikovil and Sri Bhagawathy Amman temple in Kanyakumari are among the temples that have put up the solar power units. In the city Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple and the Arupadai Veedu temples have opted for solar power.
Despite the efforts, the temples have to shell out a huge sums of money ranging up to Rs 30,000 to meet the bi-monthly expenditure towards energy consumption. The green power is an initiative of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and it commenced in the 2012- 13 fiscal and gradually one temple after the other installed solar panels. "Though the aim is to ensure all the temples switched over to solar energy, only those temples having independent financial resources are able to install the panels and maintain them," an official said. Nevertheless, installing solar panels on temple premises is becoming a movement across the state, he added.
